2014:081 - ROSDOAGH, Mayo

Monitoring of groundworks during the Rossport Group Water Scheme, in Rosdoagh townland in north County Mayo, was carried out between 30 April and 10 July 2014. Monitoring of groundworks was a recommendation of an assessment of the proposed development which was carried out in April 2013 and a condition of planning.

The pipeline was located in grass verges along the public roads or within the road, including the L5245, the L52453 and a number of tarred boreens. A new reservoir was located adjacent to the existing reservoir in an area of blanket bog, some of which had already been reduced to the natural undisturbed horizon at some point in the past. The pipeline measured 6.616km in total length with pipe diameters of 63mm, 90mm, 110mm and 160mm. Some sections of the pipeline were located adjacent to the existing water-main.

Below the road and the grass verge/topsoil was peat, fill associated with the road or the existing water-main and natural subsoils, above bedrock in places. One 64m-long section of the pipeline was located off the road and through the bog. Here below the peat was natural subsoil and bedrock. The reservoir and the rising and distribution mains to and from the reservoir were located in blanket bog, below which was natural subsoils.

The monitoring of groundworks at the development revealed natural undisturbed stratigraphy in the off-road areas, and alongside and below the roads and the modern services. No artefacts were recovered.